Bag and bag supply



May 4, 1965 M. JELLING ETAL BAG AND BAG SUPPLY Original Filed Oct. 10. 1962 lNVENTORS N/C'HA EL F/P/EDMAN Mil/W54 Y JELL/NG BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 7 Claims. (Cl. 229-69) This application is a division of our earlier application Serial No. 229,630, filed October 10, 1962.

This invention relates to bags and other such types of coverings as may be employed to .protect garments of various other types of articles.

The invention also relates to bag supplies constituted, for example, by a roll of flatted tubing which is perforated and provided with seams to define a succession of detachable bags having closed or substantially closed ends.

The protection of garments and other such articles with transparent plastic bags is currently a widely employed technique. These bags are most conveniently supplied in roll form in a continuous series from which the individual bags can be successively detached for use. One particular method which has proved eminently successful is a method according to which a garment is suspended in vertical disposition and the foremost bag of a series drawn down over the same and subsequently detached.

For reasons of economy as well as ease of storage and use, these bags are generally fabricated of a pliable plastic such as polyethylene. To provide that such bags adapt readily to the shapes of the articles to be covered, and also for reasons of economy and minimizing of weight, these bags are generally fabricated with a minimum wall thickness.

The use of a very small wall thickness and a pliable plastic enables bags of the aforesaid type to be provided in the form of a flatted tube possibly having one or more longitudinal seams along which the tube is closed. This tube is provided with transverse alignments of perforations constituting tear lines defining separate and detachable bags. The tube is further provided with substantially transverse seams, formed by heat sealing or like techniques, whereby the individual bags are provided with closed or substantially closed ends.

The walls of such flatted tubes are in close proximity to each other. This is desirable for purposes of storage, packing, tube guidance and for various other reasons. However, this proximity of the opposed walls has one very distinct disadvantage which it is a primary object of the invention to avoid.

More specifically, the foremost bag of a series of detachable bags formed in a fiatted plastic tubing will, due to the proximity of its opposed walls, invariably have its mouth or openable end closed such as to cause the user thereof substantial difficulty in applying the bag over a garment or the like. Moreover, attempts to separate the opposed walls will frequently, due to the slight construction thereof, result in a tearing of these walls. Still further, the loss of time involved in opening the mouths of a series of bags prior to application of the latter runs directly contrary to the very nature of the overall operation.

To overcome these problems, the invention contemplates the provision of an improved bagging technique whereby bags are supplied as elements of a continuous series under the circumstances outlined above with the exception that the foremost bag is brought to a position of readiness with its mouth opened and conveniently positioned for enveloping an article to be bagged.

As will be better understood from the detailed description which follows hereinafter, objects or" the invention include providing an improved bag structure and an improved continuous-series bag supply.

It is a further object of the invention to improve the design of bag structures such that their inclusion in a series will not preclude the possibility of spreading open the mouths thereof.

According to the bagging technique associated with the invention, one or more spreading elements are passed through the closed ends of the bags into the mouths of the next successive bags which mouths are thereby opened. This, under preferred circumstances, requires that the closed ends of the bags be so formed as to permit the passage of said spreading elements.

Considering in greater detail the method associated with the invention, for example, with respect to the bagging of a succession of articles at abagging station, said method may be regarded as comprising arranging in the vicinity of said station a series of plastic bags, each of which has leading and trailing edges, the leading edge being openable and the trailing edge being substantially closed; the Inethodfurther comprising arranging mechanical spreading elements in substantially fixed position adjacent the aforesaid station. In further accordance with this method, one of the articles is supported at said station and the foremost of the aforesaid bags is drawn over the spreading element onto this article, the spreading element passing through the trailing edge of the said foremost bag and into the leading edge 'of the next sequential bag until the latter said trailing edge bears against the articlesuch that the spreading elements opens the leading edge of said next sequential bag. The foremost bag is then detached from the series and the thusly bagged article removed.

From this example, it will be seen that an important advantage is gained whereby only the leading edge of the foremost bag of a series need be manually drawn over the spreading elements. This important advantage is gained since the spreading elements of the invention pass into the leading edge of each bag subsequent to the first bag in a series in automatic manner as will hereinafter be made more apparent.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a source of bags may comprise a roll of flatted polyethylene tubing or the like having a longitudinal axis and provided with rectilinear alignments of perforations at right angles to said axis, the alignments being equidistantly spaced along the said axis and constituting tear lines. In further accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tubing is provided'with seams adjacent each tear line and extending from positions spaced equally on opposite sides of the aforesaid axis to the lateral extremities of said fiatted tubing. These seams are angularly disposed relative to the associated tear lines and in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention have openings equidistantly spaced from the aforesaid axis and preferably also from said lateral extremities.

A preferred apparatus for use with bags of the invention comprises a vertical post including means thereon for engaging the hook of a hanger and suspending the hanger with a garment thereon, with a frame rotatably supporting the above noted roll with the axis .thereof in horizontal disposition. In combination with these elements there is provided a plurality of guide bars parallel to the axis of said roll and at least one of which is substantially superposed relative to the above noted post. Theabove indicated tubing extends from the roll and across the guide bars towards said post. Further, spreading means are provided which are substantially fixed relative to'the post and are supported between the latter and the superposed guide bar in positions 7 corresponding to the openings in the aforesaid seams. The tubing, in the portion thereof between the superposed guide bar and post, envelops the spreading means whereby the latter may pass through the openings in the seams.

Advantageously the bag supply techniques provided in accordance with the invention are economically feasible and adapted for the use of currently available machinery.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a floor-rack bag dispensing apparatus with bag spreading elements for use with a bag supply provided in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and illustrating the profile of a spreading element with the plastic tubing of a bag supply applied thereto; and

FIGURE 3 illustrates a portion of flatted tubing, the seams and tear lines of which are provided in accordance with the invention.

The apparatus employed with the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. It employs a bag supply in the form of a continuous series of bags defined or formed in a pliable, flatted tubing.

Such a fiatted tubing is illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein the front and back plastic walls 30, fabricated for example of pliable polyethylene and having a normal thickness of several ten-thousandths of an inch, are arranged in substantially parallel, opposed face-to-face proximate relationship.

Said tubing is provided with a plurality of equidistantly spaced alignments or transverse lines 32 of perforations which constitute tear lines and divide the tubing into a sequence of separable sections or bags having, for example, leading edges L and trailing edges T. The alignments 32 are preferably, although not necessarily, arranged perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubing and with respect to the lateral extremities or edges 34 and 36 thereof. The method of forming and the arrangement of the perforations are known to those skilled in the art and require no further explanation in this text.

Adjacent each of the tear lines are provided seams 38 and 40 extending from positions 42 and 44 respectively which are equidistantly spaced on opposite sides of the center axis of the tubing. Said seams which connect said walls and which may be formed by heat sealing and like techniques extend, for example, in angular disposition with respect to the aforesaid tear lines to the lateral extremities 34 and 36 of the tubing. Said seams provide for closing one end of the associated bag and eventually come to bear against the articles being covered such as, for example, against the shoulders of a suit jacket or the like.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the in vention, seams 38 and 40 are provided with openings 46 and 48 which are approximately as wide as the distance between portions 42 and 44. These openings are preferably equidistant from the center axis of the tubing and further are preferably spaced by equal distances from the lateral extremities 34 and 36. Although openings 46 and 48 may be positioned directly adjacent lateral extremities 34 and 36, they are preferably spaced therefrom for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter.

The tubing of FIG. 3 is generally supplied in the form of a roll such as indicated in the form of rolls 50, 52 and 54 of FIG. 1. Each said roll such as, for example, roll 54, is mounted on a horizontal shaft 56 having a supporting spool 58 thereon. Said rolls are mounted and retained in horizontal disposition by a floor rack or frame 60 which may assume various forms.

The frame illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises generally two vertical rods 62 and 64 which, together with angled rods 66 and 68, constitute the four legs of the structure, these legs being connected by horizontal bars 70, 72, 74 and 76. The respective shafts of rolls 50, 52 and 54 are mounted in horizontal disposition on elements 66 and 68 whereby a horizontal axis of rotation is provided for each of these rolls.

For purposes of simplicity of illustration, only one of the rolls of FIG. 1 is shown as being used. The flatted tubing 78 drawn from the roll 54 for use is passed between guide bars or rollers 80 and 82 and then between guide bars or rollers 84 and 86.

Guide bars 84 and 86 between which passes the flatted tubing 78 are the terminal guide members engaging the flatted tubing before the latter is applied to an article to be covered. These terminal guide elements 84 and 86 are superposed with respect to a vertical post 88 which, by means of a bracket 90 attached to horizontal rod 74, is fixed in position relative to frame 60. Post 88 is provided with a grooved, adjustable head 92 adapted to receive the hook of a hanger (shown in phantom lines) and which when fixed in position defines a bagging zone or station.

Two spreading elements 94 and 96 are provided which are enveloped by the tubing 78 and which operate to spread the leading edge or mouth of the bag which is next sequential to the bag being applied to an article suspended by post 88.

Spreading elements 94 and 95 are spaced apart at a predetermined distance corresponding to the distance between openings 46 and 48 in seams 38 and 40 in FIG. 3. The bottom extremities of elements 94 and 96 are spaced above head 92, but by no more than the length of a single bag.

The application of the flatted tubing 78 to the spreading elements 94 and 96 is best seen in FIG. 2 wherein the tubing and spreading element 94 are shown in section.

In FIG. 2 it is seen that tubing 78 consists of opposed and intimately adhering walls 98 and 100 where said tubing approaches the upstream extremity of the spreading element. 7

Each spreading element consists of a profiled strap or strap of resilient material such as, for example, spring steel or the like. The upper extremity 102 of each spreading element is shaped in the form of a book by means of which the spreading element is suspended from the guide bar 82 in floating relation. The terminal portion or upstream end of the spreading element is provided with a smooth or bulbous protrusion 104 consisting of two hemispheres 106 and 108 fastened by a pin 110 to said upstream end. The purpose of the bulbous protrusion is to avoid contacting the tubing 78 with sharp or rough edges whereby said tubing may be torn.

A straight intermediate portion 112 of each spreading element depends downwardly from the hook shaped por tion 102, said intermediate portion terminating downstream in a bifurcated structure 114 (FIG. 2) consisting of diverging legs 116 and 118 which constitute with portion 112 an inverted Y-shaped structure. Said legs terminate in respective arcuately shaped portions 120 and 122 which are toed-in to avoid endwise engagement with the walls of the aforesaid tubing.

In operation, flatted tubing 78 is drawn from roll 54 and is passed over the upstream bulbous ends 104 of the spreading elements 94 and 96 and is then drawn along said spreading elements in enveloping relationship with respect thereto between guide rollers 80 and 82 and thence between guide rollers 84 and 86. The tubing is then drawn over the bifurcated structure 114 of each of spreading elements 94 and 96 and is drawns towards the bagging station.

A garment, for example, supported on a hanger is suspended from means 92 on post 88 in position for a bagging operation. The tubing is drawn downwardly over said garment and hanger, the hook of which passes between positions 42 and 44 (FIG. 3) of the foremost bag. At the same time, spreading elements 94 and 96 pass through openings 46 and 48 and enter into the leading edge of the next successive bag. With seams 38 and 40 seating against the garment which is being covered, the

.5 spreading elements 94 and 96 are in such a position in the next successive bag as to maintain the leading edge or mouth thereof in opened condition when the foremost bag is detached along the corresponding tear line. The garment can then be removed and the leading edge of the next successive bag readily engaged by the operator since the walls 98 and 100 are spread apart as is indicated generally in FIG. 1 although in operation this leading edge would, of course, be in much closer proximity to the bagging station.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many variations and modifications of the bag and bag supply set forth above. These variations and modifications will not, however, depart from the scope of the invention if defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of manufacture comprising an elongated flat tube of pliable material including substantially parallel front and back walls, said tube further having opposite lateral edges whereat said walls are connected and being provided with transverse lines of openings extending between said edges and dividing said tube into separable sections serially connected at said transverse lines, each of said sections having seams connecting said walls and extending from respective of said edges towards spaced positions on a related one of the said lines, said seams being provided between their respective edges and associated of said positions with an opening approximately equal in size to the distance between said positions.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a flat tube of pliable material including front and back walls, said tube further having opposite lateral edges whereat said walls are connected and being provided with transverse lines of openings extending between said edges and dividing said tube into separable sections serially connected at said transverse lines, each said sections having seams connecting said walls and extending from respective of said edges towards spaced positions on a related one of the said lines, said seams being provided between their respective edges and associated of said positions with an opening substantially equal to the distance between said positions and substantially larger than the openings in said lines.

3. For a roll of plastic bags: an elongated tube of pliable plastic material including substantially parallel front and back walls, .said tube further having opposite lateral edges whereat the walls are connected and being provided with transverse lines of openings extending between said edges and dividing said tube into separable sections serially connected at'said transverse lines, each of said sections having two angularly disposed seams connecting said walls and extending from respective of said edges towards spaced positions on a related one of the said lines, said seams each being provided between their respective edges and associated of said positions with an opening substantially larger than the openings in said lines.

4. An article of manufacture comprising an elongated flat tube of pliable plastic material in roll form and including facing front and back walls, said tube further having opposite lateral edges whereat said walls are connected and being provided with transverse lines of openings extending between said edges and dividing said tube into separable sections serially connected at said transverse lines, each of said sections having, adjacent one of the related lines, two angularly disposed seams connecting said walls and extendingfrom respective ofjsaid edges into intersecting relationship with said related line at spaced positions on the said related 1ine,"said seams each being provided between their respective edges and associated of said positions with an opening substantially larger than the openings in said lines.

5. An elongated flat tube of polyethylene comprising substantially parallel front and back walls, said tube further having opposite lateral edges and being provided with a transverse rectilinear line of openings extending between said edges and dividing said tube into two separable sections serially connected at said transverse line, one of said sections having two angularly disposed seams connecting said walls and extending from respective of said edges into intersecting relationship with said line of openings at spaced positions on the said line so as 'to be separated, along said line, by a portion of said line, said seams each being provided between their respective edges and associated of said positions with an opening, said sections being separable from one another along said transverse line, said seams substantially closing the related section, said tube being in the form of a roll, the openings in the seams being about as wide as the distance between said positions, the openings in said line being substantially smaller than the openings in the seams.

6. An article of manufacture comprising an elongated flat tube of pliable plastic material including front and back walls, said tube further having opposite lateral edges whereat said walls are connected and being provided with corresponding transverse lines of openings in each wall extending between said edges and dividing said tube into two separable sections serially connected at the transverse lines, one of said sections having two angularly disposed seams connecting said walls and extending from respective of said edges into intersecting relationship with said lines of openings at spaced positions on the said lines so as to be separated, along said lines, by a portion of said openings, said seams being provided between their respective edges and associated of said positions with a single opening whereby the sections can be separated from one another along said transverse lines while said seams substantially close the related section, and the openings in the seams enable the passage of spreader elements from one section to another to effect a spreading apart of the said front and back walls, said walls being separate from each other along said lines except at said edges and said positions.

7. An article of manufacture comprising an elongated flat tube of pliable plastic material including substantially parallel front and back walls, said tube further having opposite lateral edges and being provided in each wall with a transverse line of openings extending between said edges and dividing said tube into two separable sections serially connected at said transverse line, one of said sections having two angularly disposed seams connecting said walls and extending from respective of said edges into intersecting relationship with said line of openings at,

spaced positions on the said line so as to be separated, along said line, by a portion of said openings, said seams being provided between their respective edges and associated of said positions with a single opening whereby the sections can be separated from one another along said' transverse line While said seams substantially close the related section, and'the, openings in the seams enable the passage of spreader elements from one section to another to effect a spreading apart of the said front and back walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,773,285 12/56 Piazze etal. 229-459 2,997,167 8/61 Westfall 2067 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner- J 

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FLAT TUBE OF PLIABLE MATERIAL INCLUDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL FRONT AND BACK WALLS, SAID TUBE FURTHER HAVING OPPOSITE LATERAL EDGES WHEREAT SAID WALLS ARE CONNECTED AND BEING PROVIDED WITH TRANSVERSE LINES OF OPENINGS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID EDGES AND DRIVING SAID TUBE INTO SEPARABLE SECTIONS SERIALLY CONNECTED AT SAID TRANSVERSES LINES, EACH OF SAID SECTIONS HAVING SEAMS CONNECTING SAID WALLS AND EXTENDING FROM RESPECTIVE OF SAID EDGES TOWARDS SPACED POSITIONS ON A RELATED ONE OF THE SAID LINES, SAID SEAMS BEING PROVIDED BETWEEN THEIR RESPECTIVE EDGES AND ASSOCIATED OF SAID POSITIONS WITH AN OPENING APPROXIMATELY EQUAL IN SIZE TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS. 